Characterisation of the submarine cone Stanley Patch, Deception Island (Antarctica): Implications for volcanic hazard assessments.

• Main Author: Hopfenblatt, Joaquin
• Other Authors: Adelina Geyer, Meritxell Aulinas
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: volcanology; Geological Hazards; Antarctica; Antarctic; Deception Island; Jaume; Port Foster; Stanley Patch; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/198949

Trabajo de final del "Master of Mineral Resources and Geological Hazards Specialty: Geological Hazards" organizado por la Universitat de Barcelona, la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona y el Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera (CSIC-ICTJA) Deception Island is the most active volcano of the South Shetland Island with more than 20 eruptive events over the past two centuries. Latest unrest episodes indicate that the volcanic system is active and future subaerial or submarine eruptions are possible, being a matter of some concern due to the growing population in the region mainly during the Antarctic summer. This work shows for the first time a physical and chemical characterisation of Stanley Patch volcanic cone to understand its origin and volcanic hazards involved in its formation. Petrographic study shows absence of typical submarine textures and morphometric analysis indicates a well shape-cone with a maximum height of 80 m and a maximum diameter of 590 m with no signs of submarine activity on its formation. Regarding its chemistry, analysed samples show similarity with the post-caldera activity of Deception Island. An eruption within Port Foster can lead to direct or indirect hazards such as ash fall or tsunamis depending of the eruption style and its magnitude. The obtained results contribute to the knowledge of volcanic hazard on Deception Island, including Port Foster as a potential hazard zone for submarine volcanic activity. This is crucial for future volcanic hazard assessment on the island due to the lack of information of the submerged part of the island. No